Coming off HRT.

[sunshineandshowers40]

I have been on HRT for around a year, increased dose around 6 months ago (100mg patches and 3 progesterone tablets 14 days of the month). My moods are horrendous, I'm irritable and snappy, especially at weekends.

I have a blood test booked but I'm wondering if I should come off HRT.

Hot flushes have stopped but I wake early, heavy periods, moody, apathetic and am just not feeling myself.

Has anyone felt like this?

You can try stopping and see how it feels.

You're on a high dose- any reason for that? The 300mgs Utrogestan would make a lot of women feel terrible. It's likely that's the issue.

Have you considered a mirena coil alongside your patch or a different form of HRT like tablets? They're all worth thinking about if you decide to go back on it.

Thank you for your reply.

I think my dose may be too high. When I had a 6 monthly review I was having more symptoms so they increased my dose, previously I was on the evorel sequi/conti 50 mg patches.

I had the mirena years ago for contraception and it didn't really agree with me.

@sunshineandshowers40 did you go from 50-100 strength? If so it might be with dropping down to 75 patch and 2 utrogestan tablets for 12 days of the month.

@Christine0708 yes, I did. It seemed like a big jump but figured the nurse/GP knew better than me. Will mention it when I have my next appointment- thank you.

Pretty sure the recommendation is 200mg progesterone for 100 patch?
I have progesterone but find it better to take everyday without a break.

Yes I am on 200 for a 100 patch. Progesterone can give you various symptoms so I'd experiment with 2 tabs and see if that alleviates things

@cleowasmycat It's 300mgs x 14 days on high doses of estrogen.

200mgs is for continuous HRT ( daily progesterone) on high dose patches/ gel.

@Whyherewego The latest guidance for sequential HRT, is women may want to use 300mgs x 14 days to offset high doses of estrogen.

If it's a combined continuous HRT, the dose is 200mgs every day for high estrogen doses.

This can be discussed with a doctor, because some women do find the higher doses unacceptable.

However, I think that @sunshineandshowers40 might want to think about reducing the estrogen . A higher dose doesn't always make any real difference to symptoms- sometimes a change to a different type, like gel or tablets can be better.

Try the utrogestan vaginally. Many women use it that way as it can drastically reduce the side effects of a high dose.

That's true in terms of some side effects. But inserting 3 capsules is no picnic. I do 2 and the discharge from them when they dissolve isn't great. I also get very disturbed sleep. If OP wants to try that way, ideally she needs 1 x 200mgs capsule and 1 x 100mgs. Her GP would need to sort that.

Thank you for all the comments. I am not sure if I would want to inset 3 progesterone capsules vaginally; I already use estradiol and the discharge from that can be bad enough.

I was on gel and Utragestan for 18 months. I stopped it a year ago as I felt out of control, couldn’t get the dosage right, bleeding, bloating, mood swings..awful. I had high hopes but I feel better off it. No problems coming off it and my. body feels really settled. Try it.

Well definitely ask your Dr if you can reduce doses of both maybe 2 capsules vaginally would be ok, it doesn’t all leak out. Some women are progesterone intolerant and pv reduces this. Have you thought about oestrogel then you can play around with the dose a bit more? They just seemed to have upped your doses of both significantly in a relatively short space of time.